Motorcycle Sales near Reno, NV

How to Choose Your First Motorcycle

If you're new to the motorcycling world, you may feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer variety of models, types, engine sizes, and everything else that's out there. What's a cruiser bike? How is that different from a street bike? Are scooters motorcycles? These are all great questions for a motorcycle newbie, and we here at 395 Motorsports in Carson City, Nevada, are happy to give you this basic overview to help you start your motorcycle journey. And when you're ready to shop, please come see us! We also serve customers in Reno and Lake Tahoe.

Basic Categories

There are a lot of different types of motorcycles out there, so figuring out which one is right for you starts with deciding how you want to ride. Motorcycles are generally categorized by where and how they're best at being used.

Cruisers

For instance, a cruiser motorcycle is a big-engined bike with chrome accents and an upright seating position, and it generally has a large engine with low-rev power. These motorcycles are great for long rides on fast roads like highways and turnpikes.

Race Bikes

Another type of motorcycle is the race bike. These sleek, speedy machines have big power and great cornering ability for maximum acceleration on the track. They're also great for street and city riding, but their tight, body-hugging riding position makes them less than ideal for long rides.

Dirt Bikes

If your joy is off road, then you need to invest in a dirt bike or motocross bike. These bikes have knobbly tires and beefy suspension that makes them able to work offroad and on the dirt track. There are also dual-sport bikes that can work both on and off the road, and these are also great if your riding style is versatile and involves at least a little dirt.

Street Bikes

Street or naked bikes tend to be slimmer and more stripped down than cruisers are, and they have narrower tires and a more upright riding position that makes them ideal for conquering rush hour traffic. These bikes have sleek style and classic lines, and they're available in a wide variety of engine sizes, suitable for beginners and veterans alike.

Scooters

Scooters are a subclass of motorcycle known for their twist-and-go throttle action and step-through design. Scooters are great for beginners because they don't have the learning curve of a manual transmission that other motorcycles have. And scooters aren't just for puttering around town - there are maxi-scooters out there with more than 600cc engines, plenty of power for highway cruising.

Whatever your motorcycle joy is, we can help you find it. Come visit us at 395 Motorsports today!